A DOMESTIC RUCTION.

Grey River Argus, 29 November 1927, Page 2

A DOMESTIC RUCTION.

In High Street. WM. GAMBLE GETS ANOTHER CHANCE. Wm. Gamble re-appeared at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning before Air W. Meldrum, S.M., on two charges, one being that of convertion to his own use of a motor car valued at £2OO, belonging to Frederick L. Turley, on the night of Saturday last, taking it from the parking place in Guinness Street. To this a plea of guilty was entered. The second count, to which Gamble pleaded not guilty, was that of behaving on the night in question in a disorderly manner in a public place. Accused conducted his own case.

Senior Sergeant C. E. Roach, who prosecuted, said that on Saturday night last accused went to visit his wife, in High Street, travelling to the house in Mr Turley’s car, which he took from where the owner had parked it in Guinness Street. He left the car on reaching the house, and entering he started attacking his wife, who ran out the back door, while accused ran out the front door, chasing her. There was a scene in the street, after which defendant re-entered the car and drove back to Guinncssi Street, where on taking it near its parking place he got out, and was met by the owner of the car.

Gorden Wilson, timber worker, of Greymouth, said that on Saturday night at 9 o’clock he met accused in Tainui Street and Gamble said he was going home to give his wife a father of a hiding. Witness, in consequence, followed him, as he thought Gamble would do his wife harm. Gamble started homewards, but witness following him. lost sight of him between the Opera House and the Suburban Hotel. When witness reached the house he could hear yelling. Witness stood at the corner where the house stands, in High Street, owing to the row, and then Airs Gamble ran out from the back of the house into the street. She came up to witness, saying, “I was just going to tell you off,” but she came up and talked to witness. Then accused came out of the front, and making for his wife, called her “a b d of a woman.” Then he struck his wife, and next thing Air Cawley, a neighbour, along with witness, had to grasp Gamble and hold him off his wife. Then Air Cawley had word sent for the police, but Gamble soon made off, getting into the car and driving back to town. The police, however, were very soon on the scene, arriving just as Gamble left, and one of them followed him..

Accused, witness, aHked: “When I grabbed my wife in the street!, what .had she in her hand?” Witness: “I’m not sure. I noticed

nothing. ’ ’ “You never saw in her hand a piece of iron about this length?”

No. When you pulled me away, you saw nothing in her hand.—No. The Alagistrate: Did his wife follow accused, or did he follow her out?— The wife came out the back door and he then came out the front door. He just rushed at her. Was she chasing him —No.

Did she strike him? —I never noticed. I saw him strike her once. He hit out with his hand and she fell over in the street.

Is she a big woman?—No. Rather smaller than the average.

Anthony Henry Cawley, watersider, of High Street, said his house was two doors from Gamble’s. On Saturday night about 11.50 o’clock, he was coming home from work, and round the corner he saw Airs Gamble and Gordon Wilson. They were on the road. , Witness stopped to see what was the matter, when Gamble rushed at his wife. As soon as Gamble went for her witness and Gordon intervened, and at one stage the whole of them were on the ground together. Gamble had hold of his wife’s hair. Witness got a grip on his wrists and made him let go. Senior Sergeant Roach.—What did he call her?—Anything but a lady. Witness’s wife rang up the police, who were on the scene in a few minutes, and witness spoke to them. By then, however, Gamble had got into a little new two-seater car, and started away. One of the police followed him up on a cycle. Accused: When I grabbed my wife, did you see anything in her hand. — No. Afterwards I heard her tell your little boy Leo to get a tyre lever with which she said you had bashed her. She then rushed with the lever to chase you as you were going in the car. Accused: I grabbed the tyre lever. Did you sec her chasing me round the car with the tyre lever?—You were iu the car then, and she had no hope of getting you. Didn’t she have the tyre lever in her hand when on the ground?—No. I tried to stop the boy from bringing the lever.

To the Senior Sergeant: It was a 1! over when the tyre lever came into it. He was then in the car and a constable chased him on his bike.

Senior Sergeant Roach said this was the case for the prosecution, and he would draw attention to the fact that Gamble had told Wilson what his purpose was in going there, namely, to give his wife a hiding.

Accused called Constable Hendrickson, asking: When you came on the scene did you hear any bad language? —No. When I started the car, was the woman chasing me?—l saw your wife was running, but I could not say if she had anything in her hand.

On another occasion about two weeks ago, you were also there?—Yes. What was she doing then?— Airs Gamble, was chasing Gamble around the yard with an axe and saying that she .would murder him.

The Magistrate: When was that?— A fortnight ago. The Senior Sergeant: Is she a. woman who could defend herself —No she is a little woman. Have you been called there before?— 1 was passing this place, and I was called in about a fortnight ago.

Giving evidence, Gamble stated he admitted converting Mr Turley’s car to his own use. Me was taking some fruit home to the children. VFhen he got to the house, he knocked at the front door. His wife came and said;

“Who’s there?” When he told her, she opened the back door, and then she ran up and opened the front door. She next ran out the back and into the street, going to the corner. Then when he came out she began abusing him. There had been a row lasting for the past six weeks. He had not gone home with the intention of staying there the night, but only five minutes.

The Alagistrate: You heard Wilson say you struck your wife when she was talking?—Yes. I made a grab at her because she was abusing me in the street.

What did she say?—She was slinging off at me because of my having been in gaol. I’ve been 14 days in gaol. She called me a gaol bird. If she had gone inside it would not have happened. Did a row start inside?—No she ran out.

You heard him say you called her “a b d of a. woman?” —No 1 did not say that. I used no bad language.

Why did you shake her in the street? —She’d make anybody wild.

Why did you not keep out of her way?—Well, if you get chased around with an axe

Oh, that happened a fortnight before. She had nothing in her hand at this time, so why did you catch her and shake her ?—I did not shake her. I grabbed her and I had hold of her when she fell.

Were there not four of you down together?—l can’t see how there were four down together.

Cawley stated he had to take your hands off her hair. —That is probably correct, but I doubt if I was pulling her hair.

The Senior Sergeant: You told Wilson you went expressly to give your wife a hiding.—l never mentioned a word to Wilson about my wife.

He said so in the box. —I deny saying that I was going to give my wife a hiding. There was a row when Wilson got there, and you knocked her down. You went up and gave her a hiding, so Wilson was not far out in his little guess. The Alagistrate: Did you strike her in the house? —No. I never attempted to strike her inside. She ran out as I entered. Why did she rush out. — I can’t say. There was no row inside. The Alagistrate said he noticed the police had not called Airs Gamble. Senior-Sergeant Roach said he did not wish to bring her there. She could take proceedings herself against accused if she wished. Air W. J. Joyce said he might be permitted to say that Gamble had, he understood secured a billet at Christchurch and was prepared to go to it. He had been a source of annoyance to his wife. It would be better for ail parties if he were out of the way. He had not made his business a success. He had had money from the Repatriation Department, but had been drinking, and when he was drunk he ran amok. Everyone would like to sec him go. The Alagistrate: What work are you doing.—Nothing this last three weeks. I have a job at Christchurch to start on Alonday if I can leave on Thursday. Have you any property —No; the house is in the wife’s name. What is the job?—An agency for an economic oil gauge. I want to get away by Thursday if I possibly can. In reply to the Alagistrate, Air Turley said that no damage has been done to the car. The Senior Sergeant: Gamble was before your Worship on the 25th of last month for being drunk while in charge of a car and for breach of his prohibiI ion order. The Alagistrate: Oh. he’s the man who tried to crank the car with no benzine in it? —Yes. Air Joyce: lie didn’t pay the fine. He “took it out,” but gaol seems to have don? him no good. When he’s drunk he runs amok.

The Senior-Sergeant: This was his first visit home after being in gaol—to give his wife a hiding. The Alagistrate: It was not in his favour that he went home at midnight. Are proceedings to be taken by his

Mr Joyce said there would be no proceedings taken by his wife for maintenance, as it would not be worth while until he settled down. The Alagistrate: You have behaved in a way for which you are liable to punishment. It is not much use fining you as you have not means to pay. I am going to give you a. chance. I wid convict you on each charge and you will come up for sentence if called on within twelve months. Y r ou will have to make good. It is to be hoped yo.i will profit by the * opportunity given you.

Gamble, who thanked the Alagistrate and left, was called back from the roar of the court to learn that he was ordered to pay £1 witness’s expenses.